Thousands of children across Cheshire and Merseyside have received free dental care packs.

The initiative aims to help prevent tooth decay.

This delivery forms part of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside's All Together Smiling Supervised Toothbrushing Programme.

The programme is designed to reduce the need for dental treatment among children under ten in the region’s most deprived areas.

The All Together Smiling Programme is implemented through Beyond, the transformation programme for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside.

So far, more than 210,000 toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and how-to guides have been distributed across the nine locations in Cheshire and Merseyside.

According to data from 2022, 30.7 per cent of children aged five across Cheshire and Merseyside had tooth decay, compared to the national average of 23.7 per cent.

Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine.

Those residing in the most deprived communities are 3.5 times more likely to have a decaying tooth extracted than children in more affluent areas.

Working with local partners, the packs are delivered to educational and non-educational organisations in communities where the risk of poor dental health is highest.

The programme provides age-appropriate support in early years settings, with trained staff using songs, videos, and stickers to motivate children.

Professor Ian Ashworth, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s director of population health, said: "Tooth decay is three times as common in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas and by supporting this simple and effective programme, we really want to make a difference to children’s long term oral health.

"Tooth decay leading to early teeth extraction in children is easily preventable through the use of fluoride toothpaste and regular brushing.

"Our goal is to equip more families and children with the tools and knowledge to minimise tooth decay and to help reduce the number of children needing teeth extracted no matter where they live."

Dr Elizabeth Crabtree, programme director for the Beyond Children and Young People Transformation Programme, said: "Poor oral hygiene can lead to pain, missed school days, and long-term health issues.

"Providing free toothbrushes and paste to our most vulnerable children and families is not just about oral health – it is about giving every child a healthier, brighter future.

"This initiative will help children avoid preventable health problems and set them up for success later in life.

"Our vision is that all our children can smile with confidence."

To learn more about caring for your children's teeth, visit the NHS website.

To find out more about All Together Fairer, visit Champs Public Health Collaborative’s website.